News 08:00

BULLETIN 19 January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Godongwana is leading South Africa’s delegation to the World Economic Forum
# The search for the missing Ekurhuleni mayoral committee member is continuing in Mozambique
# And soccer: Senegal is crowned AFCON champions for a second time

# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana is leading South Africa’s delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The forum, which gets underway today until Friday, will be held under the theme, A Spirit of Dialogue. Godongwana is being accompanied by ministers Ronald Lamola, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Patricia de Lille, and Stella Ndabeni. National Treasury says the delegation will showcase South Africa’s improving economic position, reflected in strengthening investor confidence and positive momentum in economic reform implementation. It adds that the country will be positioned as a definitive choice for global investors.

# Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, has welcomed the classification of a national disaster, following severe weather conditions and widespread flooding across parts of the country. Heavy rainfall and deadly flooding from late December 2025 have affected parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and North West. The minister’s spokesperson, Pearl Maseko-Binqose, says the mobilisation of adequate resources to support relief and recovery efforts is imperative:

# The search and rescue efforts have intensified for Ekurhuleni Roads and Transport mayoral committee member, Andile Mngwevu, and three others in Mozambique. This comes after the vehicle they were travelling in was swept away by floodwaters in the Chokwé area on Saturday. Five people were originally in the vehicle, and one managed to escape the submerged car. Ekurhuleni’s spokesperson, Phakamile Mbengashe, says the South African National Defence Force is assisting in the search:

# At least 21 people were killed, and more than 70 were injured, following the derailment of two high-speed trains near the town of Adamuz, close to the city of Cordoba in Spain. According to the Railway Infrastructure Administrator, the accident occurred when a high-speed train travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed and crossed onto the adjacent track, on which another train travelling from Madrid to Huelva was running. This caused the second train to also derail. Authorities have warned that the death toll could still rise.

# Soccer: Senegal beat hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time to secure a second Africa Cup of Nations title. The final was marked by controversy as the Senegal players walked off the pitch after the hosts were awarded a stoppage-time penalty, which was deemed controversial, with the match goalless. After some encouragement from Sadio Mane, the Senegal players re-emerged in the 20th minute of stoppage time and Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. The final then went to extra time, where Pape Gueye’s goal secured victory for Senegal.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-41-cents and the euro at 19-rand-6-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-96-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-527-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-660-dollars-52-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-63-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….